REPUBLIC, Mo. — Wilma Jean Damron was born on July 22, 1928, in Claremore, Okla., to Chester and Eva (Perryman) Stokes. She passed away on March 31, 2013, in Springfield, Mo., surrounded by her husband and children, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday, April 5, 2013, at Brookline Baptist Church with Pastor Dan Swadley, and retired minister and longtime family friend, Joe Yates, officiating. Interment will follow at Missouri Veterans Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2013, at Meadors Funeral Home, Republic, Mo.

Wilma was raised and attended school in Claremore, Okla. She was employed at Ben Franklin 5 & 10 when she met the love of her life, Bobby Damron. Bobby was in the United States Air Force, so Wilma went to be with him and they were married on May 9, 1950, in Columbus, Ga. Wilma was a full-time military wife for the next 17 years living in Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Okinawa and finally Utah, where Bobby retired in 1967. While in Utah, Wilma played an active role in her children’s lives, serving several terms as PTA president and keeping a close watch on their school activities (they never knew when she would be around)!

Wilma and Bobby moved to Russellville in 1974 after he retired from the civil service. Wilma became involved at Hector Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, served as church secretary and taught Sunday school for many years. Wilma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003, and in 2009 they moved to Republic, Mo., to be near her children, where she became a member of Brookline Baptist Church. Throughout her life, Wilma served as a role model, wife, parent and Christian exemplifying the true meaning of family values, love and devotion.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Duke, Bobby and Gordon Stokes; sisters, Evelyn Nichols, Eva Pearson and Wilmeta Ostrander; two sister-in-laws, Jocelle Hargus and Delois Mott; and a grandson, Joshua Damron.

Survivors include her husband of almost 63 years, Bobby; four children, Greg Damron and wife, Pam, of St Peters, Mo., Lisa Wood and husband, Ernie, of Bois D’Arc, Mo., Vicki Hendron and husband, SSG Mark Hendron, of Lawton, Okla, and Eric Damron and wife, Tonya, of Republic; 10 grandchildren, Jeremy Wood of Arkansas, Tyla Massey and husband, Jimmy, of Missouri, FC2 James Taylor and wife, Bobbi, of Virginia, Amanda Smith of Missouri, SSG Zach Taylor and wife, Daneene, of California, Cody Sims of Missouri, Brandy Sessom and husband, Tanner, of Oklahoma, Brittany Damron, Natalie Damron, and Alyssa Damron, all of Missouri; and 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Chester Stokes of California; a sister, JoAnn Darling and husband, Gordon, of Origen; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Vernon and Betty Damron of Russellville; and many nieces and nephews. Wilma also leaves her church families at Hector Baptist Church and at Brookline Baptist Church, as well as many friends and extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in Wilma’s name to Mercy Hospice of Springfield.